Can I Use My BNZ Visa Debit Card Overseas?

BNZ visa debit cards make it easy to buy things online, at ATMs and in stores. They also offer competitive rates and features such as 0% purchase interest rate for up to 55 days.

However, there are some fees you should know about before you travel overseas with your BNZ visa debit card. These include the foreign currency service fee and exchange rate charges.

1. Make sure your card is activated

If you plan on using your BNZ visa debit card overseas, it’s important that you activate it before your trip. This will ensure that you can use your card to pay for purchases in stores and at ATMs while you’re abroad.

You can do this through the BNZ app by logging in and tapping Cards, then choosing the card that needs to be activated. You’ll be prompted to enter your PIN. If you don’t have a PIN set up, you can also activate your card by visiting a BNZ branch with identification documents such as your passport or driver’s license.

Activating your BNZ visa debit card is easy, and the process is quick and convenient. You’ll need to bring your passport, drivers’ license, and identification documents with you to the BNZ branch so they can verify that you are the person who opened the account.

As with any credit card, BNZ’s fraud protection system will protect your money if your BNZ visa debit card is used fraudulently. It’s called Zero Fraud Liability (ZFL), and it covers all Visa transactions on your card, whether they’re made online or in-store.

It also includes a travel notification feature, so you can tell BNZ that you’re planning to travel and they can update their systems so you don’t get charged for international purchases that aren’t made by you.

Your BNZ visa debit card works just like any other credit card, except that it’s issued in New Zealand dollars. When you use your card in a foreign currency, the money changes to NZ dollars at an exchange rate applied by Visa. You’ll be charged a foreign currency service fee, which is 2.25% of the transaction in NZ dollars.

You can also block your BNZ visa debit card in the BNZ app so you won’t be able to make purchases while you’re overseas. You can unblock it at any time.

With a wide range of cards on offer, BNZ has something for every person and every budget. From premium and business cards to Flybuys and other rewards, there’s a BNZ visa debit card that’s right for you.

2. Keep a backup card in a safe place

If you’re planning to use your card overseas, it’s a good idea to have an extra one handy. Having a backup can be invaluable in case your primary card is lost or stolen, or if you experience a network outage. You can also use your backup card to access emergency cash if needed.

If possible, try to keep this card in a different bank from your main card. This way, if a problem arises with your primary card while you’re overseas, you won’t be locked out of your account until you clear up the issue with your main card provider.

You can also take a screen shot or screenshot of your credit card’s security features to show to your banker so they can help you out. This can save you a lot of hassle later on.

BNZ has a feature to help you keep your card secure online: Visa Secure. This will help you avoid fraudulent charges by blocking your card in the event it’s used without your permission. You can activate it in the BNZ app or via your card’s online banking.

A backup card will also be useful in case your phone is stolen or lost while you’re away. If you’re using an iPhone, Apple Pay or Google Pay, you can add this as a back-up option in the BNZ app, so it’ll be easier to replace your wallet if your device is stolen or misplaced.

It’s also a good idea to check that your card is linked to your bank account – if you have more than one account with BNZ, the quickest and easiest way to use a debit or credit card overseas is through your regular accounts. This will save you a lot of hassle, and in the long run, will probably be cheaper than getting a cash advance on your credit card.

Taking the time to think about your money management plans for your trip will go a long way toward making sure you have a stress-free holiday. Match the right money management options with your travel style, and you’ll be set for an epic getaway.

3. Ensure your card is linked to your bank account

When you make purchases overseas, your card will debit your BNZ bank account. This will help ensure that your money is always available to use, and will avoid any potential problems with using your card while overseas.

To link your credit card to your BNZ bank account, simply log in to the BNZ app and select the CHQ or SAV option from the menu. This will always allow you to access your credit card when making contactless payments, online purchases, over the phone or mail orders and overseas retail purchases. It will also be a handy safety net should you lose your card while travelling, as it will still work for any automatic payments and direct debits that have been set up.

Alternatively, you can link your credit card to a YouMoney account. This allows you to open up to 25 accounts, which can be linked with your BNZ Flexi Debit Visa card to enable unlimited withdrawals and pay no monthly account fee or transaction fees.

You can choose to make minimum payments via direct debit, or set up an auto-pay option so your repayments match your salary pay-date schedule. You can also transfer funds to your BNZ bank account from another New Zealand bank, or even use online or telephone banking to move money between accounts.

The BNZ Lite Visa is designed for customers who are looking for a credit card that is affordable and provides excellent interest rates. It offers a low purchase interest rate of 12.9% per annum, and up to 55 days of interest free days on outstanding balances when you repay your entire balance in full before the due date.

This low rate makes it a great choice for people who want to save money while they work to clear their credit card balance. Getting an affordable card that suits your budget is the key to being able to keep up with your financial commitments while taking advantage of any savings opportunities that may arise.

BNZ Visa debit cards come with an extra layer of security that helps prevent unauthorised transactions made using your card on the internet. It’s called Visa Secure and it works automatically in the background. This means that if you make an unauthorised payment on your BNZ Visa debit card online, it will prompt you to confirm your identity using two-step authentication in the BNZ app.

4. Check the currency conversion rate

If you want to use your bnz visa debit card overseas, it’s important to check the currency conversion rate before you do so. This will help ensure you don’t pay more than you need to.

Many credit cards charge a foreign currency conversion fee when you make purchases in another country. This fee can range between 0% and 4.5% of the amount you spend. It’s not always clear why these fees are charged. However, it can be a result of a company’s foreign exchange policy.

The best way to avoid this is by reading the small print and comparing your bank’s charges with other providers. You should also check the daily exchange rate to see if it’s competitive before you spend in another currency.

In addition, if you’re planning to send money abroad, check that your bank doesn’t charge an international payment fee. You can find out more about these fees by contacting your bank or looking online.

For example, if you were to make a foreign currency transfer from a New Zealand bank to a friend in the UK, you’d pay BNZ’s standard transaction fee (around NZ$5.75 at the time of writing) and an additional NZ$0.18 in exchange rate margin fees for converting your money into GBP. Compare this to a cheaper service, such as Wise (a London-based transfer specialist that was the cheapest option on Monito’s comparison engine at the time of writing) and you could save yourself around 3.5%.

Similarly, if you wanted to purchase foreign currency before you left on your trip, you’d save yourself even more money by checking out options such as Travel Money Oz and Travelex. These companies offer a lower transaction fee (around NZ$5 – NZ$10), and if you’re a BNZ customer, you can order currency through Travelex for discounted rates by using promo code TRAVELEXBNZ at checkout.

If you’re planning on making lots of overseas purchases, consider opening a Rapid Save account or a term deposit to ensure you can cover the costs without having to worry about unexpected expenses. Getting ahead of the game can make all the difference to your holiday.